With the Atlantic hurricane season officially underway, Aqua Pennsylvania is urging customers to take proactive steps to prepare their homes and families for potential storms.  

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this year’s hurricane season has an 85 percent chance of being above normal, forecasting 17 to 25 total named storms. Of these, 8 to 13 are expected to become hurricanes, and 4 to 7 may develop into major hurricanes. 

“Hurricanes can cause significant disruptions to our community, including potential impacts on our water and wastewater infrastructure,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca. “By following these simple tips, you can help ensure your family has access to safe water during and after a storm.” 

While Aqua strives to maintain service during storms, power outages can disrupt routine drinking water delivery and the ability to treat and pump wastewater. Severe storms can wreak havoc on Aqua’s service areas, especially in coastal communities or those along a surface water body. It is essential for customers to proactively prepare for potential loss of water service.  

Aqua offers the following tips to help residents prepare:  

• Store water for essential use: Fill clean pots, jugs, and even bathtubs with water before a storm arrives. This water can be used if your service is interrupted.  
• Sign up for water emergency alerts: Stay informed by signing up for Aqua’s WaterSmart alerts, which provide updates on service disruptions and boil water advisories. Log in to Aqua’s new ePortal to find targeted service updates on the service disruption map.  
• Know what to do: If customers are under a boil water advisory after Aqua restores service, disinfect tap water by boiling it. Purify all water that could be ingested by bringing it to a rolling boil for two minutes and letting it cool. Young infants and pregnant women should use bottled or stored water instead of boiled tap water whenever possible. Once boiled, the water should be cooled before consuming. 
• Create an emergency plan: Establish a plan for evacuating the household, gathering necessary supplies, and communicating with family and friends. Rehearse this plan to ensure you’re prepared when you need to activate it.  
• Review health and home insurance policies: Make sure you understand your coverage for water damage and other potential storm-related losses. Put aside funds in case of emergency, if possible. 
• Prepare your sewer line: If you live in a low-lying area and your home is subject to sewer backups, you can prepare by installing a check valve or isolation valve in your sewer line. Your local plumber can assist with selecting and installing the valve.   

Aqua is committed to providing safe and reliable water service throughout hurricane season. By taking these steps now, you can be prepared for potential challenges. 

For more information on how to prepare for a hurricane, visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or Aqua.  

Learn more at Aqua Pennsylvania. Aqua serves approximately 1.5 million people in 32 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.